Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 28717, Jeremiah Dudley, Mass N.H.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass Neb.
Dudley, Jeremiah
S. 28717
CONTENTS
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New York
Jeremiah Dudley
Heubner Co in the State of New York who was a private in the Corp commanded by Captain Ballard of the Regt. commanded by Col. Hays in the New H. & H. line for 13 months — mss
25
Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 43 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 9 day of July 1834 and sent to J. Cruger Bath
Arrears to the 4th of Sep. 33 $108 33 Semi-ant. allowance ending A.M. 34 21 66 $129 99
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. } Geo. C. Stiles Clerk.
Recorded by Book E.
Vol. 4, Page 96.

No 25711.
Jeremiah Dudley Stuben County New York
Proof of service Admitted Private 13 months all in New York for 12 mo
David Bauger (Bath) Stuben County present New York

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
Aug 17 1833
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Jeremiah Dudley Steuben County New York
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Enlist July 1775 - 8 - private Capt Hudson Ballard Col Freys Regt 71 years County of Traditional evidence - papers correct   Vol 2 Jan'y. 1776 1 - - " Capt Hudson, Col Whitcomb Lincoln District of   13 Maine  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
There is no evidence of enlistment for 8 mos in 1775. There was enlistment for 7 mos in the year  cont. in which claimant alleges to have joined

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this _____ day of _____ personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of _____ in the county of _____ and State, Territory or District of _____ aged (c) _____ years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) _____, with _____ and served in the _____ (e) regiment of the _____ line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of _____
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I _____ of the Court of _____ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this _____ day of _____ &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the _____ and C. D. residing in (the same) _____, who has hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with _____, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _____ years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the _____ and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the _____ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, _____ Clerk of the Court of _____ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this _____ day of _____ &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
Declarant should give proof for his years term of enlistment if possible

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following ( m ) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? To an Officer. { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?  7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:—For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months , is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
□ The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

25711
In the Matter of Levmuch Dudley.
Pension application

State of New York
Steuben County ss. On this 28 th day of May in
The year one thousand eight hundred and thirty three personally appeared in open Court, before Robert Morell Esq., one of the Circuit Judges of the Supreme Court of Justice of the State of New York, at a Circuit Court now sitting at Bath in and for the County of Steuben aforesaid in the State aforesaid, Jeremiah Dudley a resident of the town of Bath in the County & State aforesaid, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832, that he is seventy-nine years old,
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That in the year 1775 he resided at in the County of Lincoln in the then District of Maine. That he went from his home to Portsmouth in the State of New Hampshire and while there he heard of the Bunker Hill Battle. That he immediately went to Cambridge in the State of Massachusetts to enter into the service of his Country. That on the 1 st of June or first of July 1775, he enlisted as a private soldier into the service of the United States at Cambridge aforesaid under Capt. William Hudson Ballard for in the eight months service, and was attached to Col. Joseph Frey's Regiment, of which one Brackett was Lieut. Col. & one Poor, Major. and was stationed at Cambridge aforesaid in the College until about the first of September of that year; that he was at the last mentioned period transferred by his own consent to Capt. Samuel McCobb's Company and attached to the Troops under the Command of Col. Arnold, destined for Quebec & Montreal. Colonel Enos & Majors Bigelow & Meigs. Marched from thence to Newburyport, there took shipping and sailed to Augusta on Kennebec River. Thence went in Batteaux up Kennebec River about one hundred and twenty miles. That the boats were then

carried over by land to where a stream called the Dead Stream - went up this stream about seventy or eighty miles. It was then found that provisions were short - that in consequence of the deficiency, three companies were ordered back. That the company to which this deponent belonged, com- manded by Capt. McCobb was one of the three. ordered back under the Command of Col. Ennis that this deponent returned to Cambridge and joined his own company under the Command of Capt. William Hudson Ballard. and served out his enlistment which expired on the first of Janu- ary 1776. That he then volunteered for one month under the same Capt. and at the same place in- mediately on the expiration of the above service, and before that month expired enlisted in the regular service and served that year under the said Capt. William Hudson Ballard, in Col. John Whitcomb's Regiment of Massachusetts Line, of which the time served as a volunteer was part, commencing on the 2 d January 1776 and ending on the first day of January 1777 - one Fraser was Major, and does not recollect that there was any Lieutenant Colonel. Soon after the last enlistment, marched from Cambridge to Dorchester Point. When the British evacuated Boston, we then marched to that place and was stationed there until about the middle of August 1776 and while there was inculcated on the Small Pox. In August the Regiment was ordered to Tienderoga & this deponent marched with his company to that place and continued at that place until first of January 1777 and was then and there discharged. That he received a dis- charge but the same has been lost. That he cannot

from old age & the consequent loss of memory, state his services more particularly. That he claims a pension for eighteen months service as a private, and that he did not serve less than that period. That he has no documentary or other proof of said service, and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
1 st That he was born in the town of Brentwood in the state of New Hampshire in the year 1783
2 nd That he has no record of his age
3 rd That he resided when he entered the service at a place now called Pittstown in the County of Lincoln in the state of Maine - since at Whitton, Bangor, and now at Bath Stephen County
4 th That he was called into service in the manner already stated
5 th That he has already stated the names of the officers under whom he served and the circumstances attending such service
6 th That he received a discharge as already stated signed by his Captain William Hudson Ballard, the Colonel having left the camp the day before he was discharged, and that the same has been lost
7 th That he states the names of Daniel L. Skinner and Samuel Dyer as persons who can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution
sworn before me this 28 th day of May 1833
W. H. Bell Clerk of Superior Court. Pleas
Jeremiah D. Dudley

The affidavit of  affidavit of Jeremiah and  and Samuel Segro of the Town of Bath in which the said Jeremiah Dudley resides, in the County of Steuben State of New York, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with the said Jeremiah Dudley who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy nine years of age; that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion & that no clergyman resides in the neighborhood of said Dudley  Dudley -
J. G. Skinner Samuel Segro
William H. Bull Clerk of
Steuben County. Pleas
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and deny as he states. And the Court further certify that it appears to them that Jeremiah Dudley Jeremiah G. Skinner & Samuel Segro who have signed the preceding certificate are residents of the town of Bath as above stated and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Robt. Moulton Circuit Judge
State of New York Steuben County
I William H. Bull, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas and of the said Circuit Court, in the said county of Steuben, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Jeremiah Dudley for a pension. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 29th day of May 1833

William H. Bull
We do hereby certify that we have been acquainted with Jeremiah Durdly the above applicant for a pension for nearly fifteen years he for that period & up to the last summer having resided within about five miles of our respective residences. That his character is good and we believe him entitled to full credit for truth and veracity; and although his recollection of details may be impaired by his great age, yet in matters in general we would give full credit to his representations. Washington Dec 19. 1833
Howell M c L. Daniel Durdly late M c L.

28717 Rev INVALID.
Apr. 21, 1904 - His to Mrs. Bell Hull-Boone In
File No. 28,717
Jeremiah Dudley Rev Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32 nd
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 116
[Arrangement of 1870.]

I hereby as agent for Jeremiah Dudley an ap- plicant for a pension for Revolutionary services, hereby relinquish a claim on his part, for all but thirteen months service. Jan'y 7 th 1833
Daniel Buell

State of New York
Herk County ss I Jeremiah Dudley of the town of Bath in said County the revolutionary soldier in the annexed papers names being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he is in his eighty first year of age - And that he is confident that he enlisted into the 8 th month service in the year 1775 from the following circumstances viz - That when conversing with his fellow soldiers since the Revolution of the service performed in that year they all spoke of the 8 months service - And that about the time when their enlistment would expire in that year Doctor Franklin came to Cambridge to consult with Genl Washington and to devise means to retain the 8 month men in the service and that on the same morning when the term of enlistment expired an address from Genl Washington was read at the head of his company ordering all to remain one month longer and that the deponent accordingly remained that time - but that he could not positively assert that the enlistment for that year was for 8 months.
And this deponent further saith that it is twenty years upwards since he moved from Maine to his present residence and that has written to his brother in the State of Ohio and to his fellow soldiers in the States of Maine & New Hampshire but has been unable to hear from them - that as far as he can learn all his fellow soldiers are now dead - that previous to his application for a pension he made every possible effort to get testimony of his service but was unable to procure any - that by reason of old age and consequent loss of memory he cannot give any further particulars in relation to his service which would tend to

an of importance that he has already given that he was a soldier of the Revolution and performed the services stated in his declaration he knows and will recollect - Jeremiah Dudley sworn & subscribed before me the 13 th November 1833 H. W. Royce S.P.
Staten Island - I do certify that I am personally acquainted with Jeremiah Dudley Esq. whose name is subscribed to the foregoing affidavit and that he is a man of good moral character and that his character for truth and veracity is beyond reproach - H. W. Royce S.P.
State of New York Staten Island County ss. I certify that Harry W. Royce Esq. before whom the within affidavit was taken was at the date thereof a Justice of the peace in and for said county of Staten Island, duly authorized to act and that I am well acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe that his name signed thereto is genuine - Witness my hand and seal of Office this 10. day of December A.D. 1833.
William S. D. Bulk clerk Hesburgh Depelt

28717 General Dudley
May 26, 1833. Born 1753 Bath N.Y. Brentwood N.H.
75 Pultslon Maine. Mass. July Capt. W m Hudson Ballard Col Jas D. V. Capt Saml McCaleb Col Fry " " " post. to Jan'y 1, 76
July 1, 76 Capt no Col Whitcomb post 1 st Div
No Det Col 2d 576. Det 32 res. Jan'y 9, 1834. N.Y. Aug

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[Large, stylized handwritten signature or initials, possibly reading "O. S. M." or similar.]

March 4 th Boone Iowa 1904
Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.
Have you any Pension regard of Jeremiah Dudley he was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He was born in Bangor, Maine, & died in Bath Steuben Co, New York. He is my great grandfather & I want dates of birth & death & wife's name to complete family record.
Resp yours.
Mrs Bell Hall.
211- 11 st Boone,
Iowa.